Improvement in wagon-platforms



mA Samsom.

Improvement inA Wagon-Platforms.

Patented April 30, ?872.

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Nrrnn STATES' ATENT IRA BRONSON, OF LOCKPORT, NEW YORK.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 126,177, dated April 30, 1872.

Specification describing certain new and useful Improvements in Vragen-Platforms, invented by IRA BRONSON, of Lockport, in the county of Niagara and State of New York.

Nature of the Invention.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the platform on which the fifth-wheel sets for -the purpose otl increasing the strength and decreasin gthe weight, as hereinafter fully explained.

General Description.

In the drawing, Figure lis a plan. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a front crosssection.

Arepresents the usual fth-wheel of awa gon partly resting on the wooden bolster B, and also held in place by iron posts or bolts a a', which are fastened at the bottom to the main under iron brace G, Fig. 2. The ends of this brace have cross-heads b b', which are firmly secured, front and back, to the wooden head and cross-bars D D. These cross-heads have shoulders or lugs c c' for the purpose of sustaining the ends of a central curved iron brace or bridge, E. The bolts a a, which pass through it from the fifth-wheel, also serve to hold it in place, and it is further secured by rivets g g', near the ends, to the under brace C. The ends of the wooden bolster are sustained by iron side braces d d', whoseV ends are fastened to the inner sides of the head and cross-bars E E. A metal strap or under brace e, Fig. 3, is attached at each end to the under side of the bolster, inclosin g the side braces d d', and, passing transversely underneath the under brace G,

receives the end of the kin g-bolt f, thus aiding in firmly holding the parts in place.

The platforms usually employed in wagons are constructed of wood, which have to be made veryr strong and heavy, they having to sustain about one-half the weight of the load, besides lateral straining and twisting.

The lightness of my construction is an ini` portant feature, as the combination of the wood and iron makes much less weight, while adding to the strength, and the curved form of the central brace E and side braces d d tend to prevent all sagging or bending, and are the essential features of my invention.

Claims.

I claiml. The construction and arrangement of the wagon platform, consisting of the iron side pieces d al', central under brace C, with crossheads b b having lugs o c', and the bent central brace E, in combination with the fifthA wheel A, bolster B, and wooden head and crosspieces D D', substantially as hcreinbefore set` witnesses.

IRA BRONSON.

Witnesses:

J. R. DRAKE, C. N. WooDwARD. 

